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By
Caroline Sutley
- March 31, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Victims
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Brandon Wheatley and Jalesia Offer, both 34, appeared side-by-side in court on March 31, facing charges in connection to two victims of child abuse. One of their victims was six-year-old Brian Graham. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Videtta A. Brown presided over the case and imposed what will ultimately be a life sentence for Wheatley, suspending all but 50 years, while Offer is set to receive a 25-year term of imprisonment.
On Aug. 21, 2024, officers were dispatched to Sinai Hospital for a report of an unresponsive six-year-old, later identified as Graham, who was found with severe bruising and burns and succumbed to his injuries later that evening. Wheatley said he fell asleep while bathing Graham due to a medical condition. Offer performed CPR upon seeing Graham unconscious, calling 911 shortly after.
A search of the defendants’ home on Aug. 22 revealed first aid supplies and evidence of abuse, including bruises on Graham’s eight-year-old brother. The Chief Medical Examiner’s (CME) office ruled Brian’s death a homicide by blunt force trauma, resulting in multiple fractured ribs and internal injuries. Testing the bathroom’s hot water revealed it reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit in just three minutes.
A separate investigation by the Baltimore City Child Abuse Unit resulted in Child Protective Services taking Graham’s brother into custody. Surveillance footage showed Offer going to Walgreens to purchase medical supplies instead of immediately contacting emergency services. Additionally, no rescue injuries consistent with CPR were found on Graham’s body.
Judge Brown found Wheatley guilty of first-degree child abuse resulting in death and first-degree child abuse resulting in severe injury to a child under 13. Wheatley was ordered to undergo a pre-sentencing investigation and psychiatric evaluation. He was prohibited from contacting minors, particularly the eight-year-old victim of similar abuse.
Offer was convicted of second-degree child abuse for delaying a 911 call and failing to seek immediate medical care for Graham. While the prosecution could not prove she physically harmed the children, they argued her actions contributed to the abuse. She was also ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
During impact statements, Graham’s grandfather condemned Wheatley’s actions, calling the abuse “hideous,” and criticized the state for allowing Graham to return to Offer and Wheatley.
He disagreed with Offer’s sentence and said, “It’s either the state takes this in their hands, or the streets will. I’m not going to be quiet about this.”
Graham’s biological father, struggling to speak, expressed frustration with the system, recalling his attempts to protect his son.
“Nobody listened,” he told the court.
He emphasized that he tried to keep Graham away from the couple and filed a report, but no action was taken.
Judge Brown expressed empathy for the grievances and apologized for the state’s failure to intervene.
“If you just live a little longer, that pain does get lighter. So does the burden,” Judge Brown said. “Child abuse cases are the hardest cases in the world.”
Graham’s father thanked her.
Judge Brown scheduled both defendants for a sentencing hearing on June 13.